BB OR RB

[darkfiire5000]

How do I tell if my 383 big block is  a BB or RB engine?

[71superbee]

I show 361 383 and 400 as a B engine

and 413 426w and 440 as a RB engine

[darkfiire5000]

Sweet thanks

[Runner]

the first year of 383s were rbs 1959 i think?

[max]

the first year of 383s were rbs 1959 i think?

yes, but those were only one year and are very rare today.

[Mean 318]

dont mean to hjack, but are the 59s woth anything?

[375instroke]

Just to the left of the distributor you will see a flat machined pad that is even with the front intake gasket rail.  This is on all RB engines and absent on B engines.  It has the engine size, a letter code for the year, and codes for undersize crank or oversize lifters.


In this image, there is an RB block on the right and a B engine on the left.  The B engine does not have the pad on top, but there is a pad on the right and under the distributor that is level with the right cylinder deck that contains the information like size.

[max]

dont mean to hjack, but are the 59s woth anything?

the only way those engines would be worth anything is if a person was restoring a car that originally came with one. it has been a long time since i have even seen one of those engines let alone seeing one advertised for sale in a magizine or on the internet.